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Let’s call this the “before” picture. The irrepressibly happy-looking Jimmy Vielkind is leaving the TU to blog for the New York Observer’s new PolitickerNY.com.

Vielkind’s hiring is part of an overhaul and expansion of the Observer’s coverage of New York State and the capitol. From the announcement by Josh Benson:

“Part of the change is cosmetic – it’s a fancy new package in which to display the local political coverage that has, until now, resided on a channel page of the Observer site.

But the transition is also an aspirational one. The new site will be statewide in scope, covering stories that interest us from all around New York and particularly, in a development that goes very much against the run of play these days, from inside the Capitol.”

For his part, Vielkind issued the following staid, politician-worthy statement: “I am excited and honored to be part of a new media venture with such an important journalistic mission,” he said. “My time at the TU has been great. And while I’m sad to be leaving wonderful colleagues from whom I have learned so much, I am thrilled for this new opportunity.”

The Daily Politics’ Elizabeth Benjamin – creator of Capitol Confidential and TU alum – had this to say about the news:

While I need more competition like I need a hole in the head, I’ve got to say that I find the Observer’s expansion of its political team heartening.

Coupled with the success of sites like Politico, this gives me some hope that nuts-and-bolts insider coverage of state houses and city halls isn’t dead, but perhaps merely in the suspended animation of some cryogenic cyber tank and just waiting for more wealthy young turks like Kushner to put their money where their mouths are.

I say, the more eyes on the Capitol, the better. To my compatriot-turned-competitor Jimmy: Welcome, and to quote a far-too-unappreciated gem of teen film, bring it.

About Capitol Confidential

Capitol Confidential gathers the best coverage of New York politics and puts it all together. Each section - Capitol, The State Worker, New York on the Potomac, and Voices - represents a unique facet of the political scene. The Capitol section features coverage from the Times Union Capitol bureau. The State Worker is dedicated to state worker issues. New York on the Potomac offers news of interest to New Yorkers from Washington. And Voices features the best of everything else, pointing you to columnists and bloggers from across the Web.